Film Producer Settles `Blair Witch' Lawsuit

The Brevard County Man Claimed He Helped Produce The Film But Was Shut Out Before It Became A Success.

December 2, 2000|By Nancy Imperiale Wellons of The Sentinel Staff

A Brevard County film producer has settled his lawsuit against the creators of The Blair Witch Project for an undisclosed amount.

Sam Barber of Cocoa Beach reached a settlement in Los Angeles federal court with the filmmakers and company behind the 1999 hit about three college students lost in the woods.

Barber had alleged that he spent thousands of dollars to help produce the 1999 summer blockbuster but was shut out before the film went on to earn $245 million worldwide.

"There was a financial settlement which we cannot discuss at any level," said Barber, 39. He said he also relinquished his copyrights to Blair Witch and to another, unreleased feature film that he worked on with its production company, Haxan Films. He also said he abandoned use of the name Barber-Myrick Pictures with former partner and Blair Witch filmmaker Dan Myrick.

Barber will also receive a "pre-production supervisor" credit on future prints, videocassettes and DVDs of the film, according to the terms of the settlement.

"Haxan Films acknowledges and thanks Sam Barber for his role in pre-production of The Blair Witch Project," Haxan President Dan Myrick said in a prepared statement. The company confirmed the settlement and the terms but would not disclose the amount of the settlement and had no further comment.

Barber said Friday he was neither pleased nor disappointed with the settlement.

"My overwhelming feelings of disappointment are about the whole affair," he said. "Understand here -- this is my dreams that were taken from me. When they [the filmmakers] were applauded at the Cannes Film Festival and went to [the] Sundance [Film Festival], those were my dreams. ... No amount of money or no amount of settlement is ever going to take that away or bring back that opportunity."

Barber alleges the Blair filmmakers used his office space to develop the film, held creative meetings and auditions there, produced a trailer using office equipment and money, and met with prospective investors. He alleges the filmmakers promised him a producer credit and a portion of the project's ownership in exchange. Instead, he alleges, they made deals behind his back.

Barber filed several lawsuits, beginning in 1998, to block the sale of the film. He had filed suit in state Circuit Court in Orange County and in Los Angeles federal court against the director, the executive producer, Haxan Films and distributor Artisan Entertainment.

The agreement effectively settles all suits over the film, Barber said.